Bowled over: the WAGs seemed to share a joke with Stanford but the players were not amused by the billionaire's flirtatious antics

On Monday night a spokesman for Stanford said the Texan had rung England captain Kevin Pietersen and Prior to apologise for any offence caused by his behaviour and that his apologies had been accepted.

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During the incident, which was televised, father of six Stanford, who is separated from his wife, then put his arms round the girlfriend of Alastair Cook and another woman, thought to be a friend of the WAGs.

The women were said to be unsure how to react and, even though they are smiling in the pictures, found the episode embarrassing but went along with it to avoid causing a scene.

One England player told Sportsmail last night: 'If that was my wife he'd put on his lap I would have wanted to punch him.'

Happy Allen: Stanford has apologised for any offence caused by his action with the WAGs

Stuart Broad was bowling at the time and said: 'When the pictures came up on the big screen there were a lot of gobsmacked people in our side. Matt Prior was in a state of total shock, especially as his wife is pregnant.'

It was noticeable that Stanford was unusually shy during Monday night's coverage of the Middlesex-Trinidad match and it is understood he had instructed the cameraman who had been constantly by his side on Sunday to feature him less.

But his attempts at a low profile were undermined somewhat last night when Sky re-ran the footage in the mid-innings break.

Stanford, who is leaving nobody in any doubt that this week of Twenty20 matches in Antigua is all about him, has also caused disquiet by walking around as if he owns the place which, in fairness, he does.

No laughing matter: the American billionaire is in playful mood with the WAGs during England's game against Middlesex

Bye bye for now: Sir Allen is understood to have asked cameramen not to film him during future games in the Stanford series

He has access to the dressing rooms and strolled over to the England players while they were holding catching practice after Sunday's match and stood next to them as they tried to concentrate on training.

All this calls into question the wisdom of the ECB effectively hiring out the England cricket team for a week of Twenty20 matches.

Stanford will pay the England players $1million (around £660,000) each should they beat his team of 'Superstars' on Saturday and this is the first series of games in a five-year deal with the American. There is also due to be a Stanford tournament at Lord's each summer.

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I'm out of order - Stanford grovels to KP and Prior after his antics with the WAGs